Safety device for securing a shoe upon a ski



Aug. 5, 1958 E. SCHNELL 2,846,232

SAFETY DEVICE FOR SECURING A SHOE UPON A SKI Filed July 19, 1954 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig, 2)

L f/Z /3/ /33 /2/l 24a nu. v [Z y o 4 Aug. 5, 1958 Y E. SCHNELL 'SAFETYDEVICE FOR sEcURrNG A sHoE UPON A sx1 Filed July 19.11954 3 Sheets-Sheet2 Aug. 5, 1958 E. SCHNELL 2,846,232

SAFETY DEVICE FOR sEcURINO A SHOE UPON A sx1 Filed July 19, 1954 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Zig/@Fm nited Sm SAFETY DEVICE FOR SECURING A SHOE UPON ASKI Eugen Schnell, Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, Germany, as-

signor to Reinhold Voster, Stuttgart-Degerloch, and Walter `Voster,Stuttgart, Germany The present invention relates to a safety appliancefor securing sport implements on shoes 4or boots, and more particularlyit relates to a new ski binding which automatically releases the foot ofthe skier when subjected to an excessive strain, for example, during afall.

lt is an object of the invention to provide a safety device for a skibinding which is of very simple design, absolutely reliable under anycircumstances, and relatively inc-onspicuous.

An essential feature of the invention consists in the provision of apairof supporting members or gripping jaws which normally abut against theforward edge or toe portion of the sole of the ski boot at differentpoints thereof and are pivotable in opposite directions, and in means,preferably consisting of a single unit, for locking both jaws by springaction in a fixed position against the sole of the boot so as to preventthem under normal skiing conditions from pivoting laterally about theircommon or separate axes, and linally in means for releasing such lockingunit when excessive forces arise either in longitudinal or transversedirections of the ski or foot, lor in any intermediate direction, so asto permit the supporting members or gripping jaws to lpivot outwardlyVfrom their normal position and release their gripping Vaction on theboot.

It is another object of the invention to provide yvery simple andreliablemeans for regulating thelocking action of the ski'binding whichis maintained by spring pressure.

A further object of the invention is to `provide simple meansfor clearlyand noticeably indicating the respective locking and releasing strengthto which the new Ski binding has been adjusted inasmuch as the condenceof the skier in its reliability depends thereon to the greatest Anotherobject of the invention is to mount theshoe `supporting elements orgripping jaws of the new ski binding so as to obtain a favorable ratioof thelocking action thereof, that is,.of theforce with which thebinding is to react against, or respond to, a pressure exerted vthereonboth .in longitudinal and transverse directions.

A further object of the invention is topprovide a solegripping devicewhich easily adapts itself to the ski boot so as to securethe ski safelythereon under normal skiing conditions and release the boot quickly andentirely from 'the locking lmechanism whenever unusual forces occurduring falls either forwardly,.to the side, or toward the rear.

'lt is still another object of the invention to affordY simple,effective, as well as protective means jfor receiving .and transmittingthe 'forces acting in different directions ,upon

`'the binding and the ski carrying the same, .andfor -providing a securesupport 'for the foot .so thatA it will not be released from suchbinding unlessnecessary, .and toprovide` a mechanism whichl is foolproofand `safe from, jamming when. laquick release fromthe binding isrequired.

.A still further -objectof the, inventionis. to Adevise asafetycdeviceof the type as; described, the operationof which -islsubstantially unaffected by friction, and the atent O 2,846,232Patented Aug. 5, 1958 ICC gether.

A feature for attaining the latter object consists in providing thesurfaces of the safety binding, which are designed to slide along eachother when the binding is actu* ated to release the foot, with a coatingor covering of friction-reducing and ice-repellent material, such asrubber, plastic, Celluloid, or the like. This applies especially to thesurfaces of the gripping jaws which are adapted to pivotlaterally inopposite directions, or to the surfaces on the base plate or the coverplate between which these gripping jaws are designed to slide. Theinvention also includes the idea of making the respective parts of thebinding which may be subjected to friction entirely of suchfriction-reducing or ice-repellent material, or of interposing a layero-f such material between the respective surfaces.

Finally, it is another object of the invention to provide means forpreventing the loss of a ski when disengaged from the foot due to a fallof the skier. An inventive feature for attaining this object resides inproviding a safety strap which connects the ski with the foot so that,when the latter is released from the binding, the ski will not slidedownhill alone but will hang onto the foot without, however, restrictingits free movement relative ,to the ski.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willappear from the following detailed description thereof and theaccompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 shows a top view :of the newgripping mechanism of a safety .binding according to the. invention,with the cover plate removed therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a section along line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 isa top View of a modified embodiment of .the invention;

Fig. 4 is a section along line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top view of another modified gripping mechanism according tothe invention with an indicating device for showing the strength of thelocking or releasing action, respectively;

Fig. 6 is a section along line 6-5 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7is a rear view of the locking mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a section along line 8-8 of Fig. 5.,'

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the portion enclosed by the circle 9'shown in Fig. 6; while l Fig. 10 is a perspective View of a ski providedwith the safety Vbinding according to the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 -of the drawings, the ski Z0 has mountedthereon a base plate 122 which is of inverted U-shape and secured to theski, for example, by screws or `the like (not shown). The base plate`122, carries a strap 123 on which the gripping jaws 124 and 125 arepivotableabout vertical axes, relative to keach other, .on pivots 126and 127, respectively. The strap 123 is provided .with an elongated slotthrough which a set `screw v146passes which is mounted at one end in thebase plate 122 and at the other end in the cover plate 121 (not shown inFig. l), which has substantially similar outer dimensions as the baseplate 122. The slot 145 permits the strap 123 to be shifted in lateraldirection so that the jaws 124 and 125, and hence the boot, may beadjusted to the longitudinal center of the ski a-.

Thebase plate 122 has a central opening in ywhich `a bolt A128islinserted, each jaw 124 and'125 being provided `with a semicircularaperture 128 sofas to encompass the bolt 128 and abut against each otherwiththeir inner surfaces when in the locking position. The head 131 ofthe bolt 128 rests upon an annular locking member 132 whichvis tted intoan aperture 121a in the cover plate-121 and engages by means of an`annular projection of wedgelike shape 133'in corresponding semicirculargrooves 124a and 12501 in the upper surface of the jaws 124 and 125',respectively.

A spring 130, for example, in the form of a leaf spring, is mountedwithin the U-shaped base plate 122011 the lower end of the bolt 128 andloosely secured thereon by a nut 129 so as to press with its outer endsagainst the lower surface of the base plate 122. By loosening ortightening the nut 129, it is possible to adjust the tension of spring130 so that the locking member 132 presses under such tension upon thejaws 124 and 125.

On their forward end, the jaws 124 and 125 are provided with inwardlydirected teeth 141 so as to prevent the boot forced by the rear part ofthe binding to press against the jaws in the direction shown by thearrow A from slipping unintentionally from the jaws laterally thereof.

If a force exceeding the strength preset by the spring 130 should occurin the direction A, it will overcome the locking pressure with which thelocking member 132 is retained on its seat, i. e. within the grooves124.@ and 125:1, and the member 132 will be lifted from the groovesagainst the action of the spring 130 and permit the jaws 124 and 125 topivot outwardly about their axes 126 and 127, respectively, to aposition 125 as indictated, for example, in dot-and-dash lines in Fig.l, thereby fully releasing the foot of the skier.

A similar effect will occur if excessive lateral forces act upon the skior the boot, thereby forcing the boot against one or the other of thejaws 124 or 125 depending upon the direction of such force, and pivotingthat respective jaw outwardly.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the jaws 224and 225 are mounted by means of a strap 223 and a setscrew 246 upon aintermediate plate 247 which is slidable between the base plate 222 andthe cover plate 221 is a longitudinal direction of the ski. In thisembodiment, the cover plate 221 is of inverted U- shape and secured tothe ski in any suitable manner, for example, by screws or the like,whereas the base plate 222 is mounted within the hollow space betweenthe arms of the cover plate 221 and fixed thereto. Similarly as in theembodiment shown in Figs. l and 2, the jaws 224 and 225 are locked inposition by a locking member 232 which under the pressure of the spring230 engages with its annular, wedgelike surfaces into correspendinggrooves in the jaws 224 and 225. Thus, in this embodiment a positivepressure is exerted by the spring 230 upon the jaws 224 and 225, thatis, from above through the locking member 232 and from below through.the fixed base plate 222 and the intermediate plate For additionalsafety, the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is also provided with asecond locking member 248 which is likewise mounted in an aperture ofthe cover plate 221 and the wedge-shaped surface 249 of which engageswith a corresponding depression in the intermediate plate 247. Thelocking member 248 is retained in position by the head 251 of a bolt250, the adjustable nut 252 of which supports a spring 253 which actsupon the lower surface of the base plate 222. By the action of thelocking member 248 under the pressure of the spring 253, theintermediate plate 247 is thus pressed against the base plate 222 andretained in position between the latter and the cover plate 221, boththe locking member 248 and the base plate 222 thus pressing upon theintermediate plate 247 from opposite sides thereof.

If an excessive force should become active in the direction rz-a, eitherupon die ski in a rearward direction or directly through the skiers bootin -a forward direction, the jaws 224 and 225, together with theintermediate plate 247 are pushed forwardly since the jaws are securelyconnected with the intermediate plate 247 through the bearing strap 223.Thus, both the locking members 232 and 248 are lifted in axial directionso that the jaws 224 and 225 will be able to pivot outwardly to releasec2 the foot. The locking and releasing actions of the jaws in thedirection of the longitudinal axis a-a of the ski are thus determined bythe total of the force exerted by both springs 230 and 253.

lf, however, an excessive unilateral force is exerted upon the ski orthe binding, the respective jaw 224 or 225 only has to overcome thelocking action of the spring 230 by lifting the locking member 232.Thus, it is possible to regulate the releasing force required in thelongitudinal direction a-a independently of the lateral releasing forcedirected about the pivoting axis of the pivots 226 and 227.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to 9, the footsupport mounted on the ski 23 again consists substantially of an uppercover plate 21 secured to the ski and forming a housing, a base plate 22rigidly secured to the cover plate 21, for example, by being rivetedthereto, and the bearing member 23 which is secured to the base plate 22by a screw 23a. The jawlike gripping or supporting elements 24 and 25are pivotally mounted in the bearing member 23 between the cover plate21 and the base plate 22 by means of hingelike end portions 27a and 27which are inserted in corresponding recesses in the outer ends of thebearing member 23 and thus do not assume any additional space in avertical direction. An adjusting screw 23 connects a lower washer 29pressing a rubber cushion 30 against the base plate 22, with the upperlocking member 32 which is axially secured by the head 3i of the screw28 and engages by means of a beadlike annular projection 33 withcorresponding semicircular grooves 24a and a in the jaw supportingmembers 24 and 25 respectively. In order to avoid any possible jammingor binding in the cover plate 21, if tilted upwardly at one side only,the locking member 32 is provided with conical side walls fitting intoan aperture 33a in the cover plate 22 of similar conical shape.

The head 31 of the adjusting screw 28 has a pointer 34 secured theretowhich cooperates with a clocklike dial which carries numerals such as 1to ll or l2. By turning the screw 28 in a clockwise direction, the twopressure members, i. e. the washer 29 and the locking member 32, aremoved closer to each other so that the locking member 32 presses moretightly upon the jaws 24 and 25, with the annular projection 32 restingupon the upper surfaces of the grooves 24a and 241;, while compressingthe rubber cushion 30 which acts as a spring and which, if desired, maybe exchanged for a coil spring of suitable strength.

The pointer 34 is for instance colored and set on the adjusting screw 28so that at a certain initial pressure between the locking member 32 andthe jaws 24 and 25, it points to the number 1 on the dial. Each turn oflscrew 28 to the next higher number means a corresponding increase inthe locking action until when the pointer 34 points to the highestnumber 11 or 12, the 'maximum locking action is reached.

The jaws 24 and 25 have pivotally mounted thereon the sole clamps 35 and36 respectively, as shown particularly in Fig. 8. For this purpose, eachclamp consists of two small angle irons 37 and 38, the horizontal armsof which encompass the respective jaw 24 or 25 on opposite sides thereofand are connected therewith by a rivet 39 to be freely pivotable aboutthe vertical axis thereof so that each sole clamp 35 and 36 canautomatically adapt itself to the respective shape of the boot sole 26.The upper end of the vertical part of the two angle irons 37 and 38 ofeach sole clamp has mounted thereon by a screw 40 a retaining member 41which is preferably adjustable in a vertical direction and the free endof which is bent backward substantially in a V-shape as shownparticularly in Fig. 8, so as to produce an inwardly inclined endportion 42 which rests upon the upper edge of the sole 26. Thus, if theskier should take a fall, for example, toward the rear, the -boot will-be -freedbypulling out of the `clamps 35 `and '36 `11p- -=ward1y and,towardthe rear, the upper edge of i the' sole A26 then sliding off 'theinclined surface 42, even though the jaws 24 and25 have not beenreleased by-pivoting -apart.

For increasing the ability of the jaws `24 and 25 to slide easily alongbetween 'thebase plate 22and the cover plate 21 and also to prevent themfromicing together with either one of these plates, separatinglayers43and -'44,of a smooth `and substantially frictionless rubbersubstancefber, plastic, Celluloid, or the like may be interposed.

Theheel of the boot maylbe supported onthe -ski in any suitable manner,provided the particular device or binding used will not in any wayinterfere with the quick release of the boot by the mechanism asdescribed and will not inself hold the boot locked to the ski if annexcessiveforce should `occur which requires animmedirate releasetherefrom. Preferably,,a` device may be used g-for this purpose `as hasbeen described and shown in ,copending patent application Serial No.447,739, filed ,August 4, 1954. However, even a support :bya simple heelbinding alone, for example, by a strap or cable Apassing around theheeland drawnforwardly by a suit- `able tensioning device, such as abuckle or the like, may ybe -use dprovided.such strap or cable issecured to theeski .,-suflicient-ly far toward the rear by means oflateral hooks or clips on the ski.

Such a com-bination of the ,safetyrdevice according to -the inventionwith a simple heel binding mounted on the -ski near the toe portion isshownin Fig. `of the l,.drawings.

The 'boote11 of the skier is-secured to the ski 20-at the toe portion ofthe sole by the safety mechanism'lZ similarly as shown in Figs. 5 to 9,the two clamps 13 of which are pivotable about the forward axis and areretained in position by friction by means of a locking member, such asshown at 32 in Figs. 6 and 9. The heel portion of the boot is retainedon the ski by the heel strap 14 which may be secured to the ski, forexample, at the toe portion and -be tightened in any suitable manner or,consist of a resilient element. The strap 14 may either extend alongthe sides of the ski to a point substantially midway of the boot bypassing through lateral hooks 15, or it may be retained by a specialsupporting device, for example, by rear holding elements or the likewhich are adjustable about Vertical axes and are pivotable about atransverse axis below the foot. However, any such heel retaining devicemust be designed so as to permit the heel to turn sideways when thesafety device according to the invention is released. In -thisconnection reference may =be had to the above mentioned copendingapplication Serial No. 447,739, filed August 4, 1954.

In order to prevent the ski from being lost down a hill when the safetydevice is released, the ski is preferably attached to the boot by meansof a safety Strap. It consists of a strap portion 16 which passesthrough a loop of another strap portion 17 the other end of which isconnected by a buckle 18 or a snap hook or the like to the portion 16.For securing this strap to the heel strap 14, the end of the part 16opposite the buckle 18 has a slit 19 through which the remainder of thestrap is drawn so as to form a loop around the heel strap 14.

Since the safety strap is connected to the heel strap 14 only at oneside, it will not tie the foot to the ski when the binding is releasedbut it will still retain the ski loosely attached to the foot andprevent it from sliding away of its own accord even if the heel strap 14should during the fall ybecome disengaged from the hook 15.

While the foregoing description sets forth in detail what I regard asthe preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood thatnumerous changes may be made therein without departing from the spiritvin its normal position on said-ski, means lfor-mounting each of saidmembers "onfsaidski infront of said boot s-o as to pivot about avertical axis, `and common resilient means comprisingalocking membermovable in `avertical "direction nfor simultaneously Imaintalning bothof said clamping members `in their respective 'normal 'positions, and aspring member'pressingsaid locking member resiliently againstbothofsaidclamping members so as to` restrain the same from vpivotingout vof vtheir normal position.

2. A Vdeviceforsecurin'g albootupon a skicompris'ing at least twoclamping membersadapted to'abut against 'the front end ofsaidbootrand'atboth 'sides of the central longitudinal vaxis of said skifor supportingsaid boot in its 'normal position von said ski, means lfor mountingeachof said members on s'aids'ki'so as vto'b'e pivotable about avertical axis `located infront of Asaid bOot, a lower pressure member,an upperpressure member, at least one of the two last mentioned membersbeing movable in a vertical direction whereby y'said two pressuremembers press simultaneously against said two clamping vmembers fromopposite v-sides thereof, interengaging means betweenone offsaidpressuremembers'and kat least oneof said clamping members, said means comprisinga projectionon one and a corresponding depression in lthe lother -of theAtwo last mentioned `-members, Yat least one of the two last mentionedmembers having an inclined surface so that, when a certain forcesubstantially parallel with the upper surface of said ski is exertedupon said clamping member, -said force is transmitted through thewedging action on said inclined surface to the last mentioned pressuremember so as to overcome the restraining action of said interengagingmeans and lift said pressure member out of the locking engagement withat least one of said clamping members to permit the same to pivot aboutits vertical axis.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the interengaging means areinterposed between the upper pressure member and the clamping membersand consist of an annular projection on the upper pressure member and asubstantially corresponding semicircular depression in each clampingmember, said depressions together forming a circular depression whensaid clamping members are in their normal position.

4. A device for securing a boot upon a ski comprising at least twoclamping members adapted to abut against the front end of said boot andat both sides of the central longitudinal axis of said ski forsupporting said boot in its normal position on said ski, means formounting each of said members on said ski in front of said boot so as tobe pivotable about a vertical axis located in front of said boot, alower plate between said ski and y said clamping members, an upper plateabove said clamping members, means for securing said lower and upperplates against being lifted from said ski and against being rotatedrelative to said ski, said lower and upper plates having superimposedopenings therein, a tensioning element extending through lsaid openings,an upper pressure member on said tensioning element above said clampingmembers and resting substantially equally upon the same, a lowerpressure member below said clamping members, and a resilient elementintermediate said lower pressure member and said lower plate, so thatsaid clamping members are locked in position between said upper pressuremember and said lower plate through the action of said resilientelement.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the resilient elementtconsists of a ring of rubber-like material surrounding the tensioningelement.

6. A device according to claim 4,` wherein the upper pressure member isplaced within the opening in 'the upper plate and provided Within saidopening with a conical peripheral surface decreasing in diameter indownward direction.

7. A device for securing a shoe upon a sport implement comprising alower plate, a cover plate, each of said plates being non-rotatablymounted on said implement. an intermediate plate mounted between saidlower plate and said cover plate and movable in a longitudinal directionof said implement, a pair of clamping members between said intermediateplate and said cover plate and adapted to abut against and support thetoe portion of the shoe in a forward direction at opposite sides of thecentral longitudinal axis of said implement, means for mounting saidclamping members on said intermediate plate so as to be pivotable aboutvertical axes located in front of the shoe, a rst pressure memberpressing from above upon said clamping members, resilient means forlocking said clamping members between said first pressure member andsaid intermediate plate, a second pressure member pressing from aboveupon said intermediate plate, and further resilient means for lockingthe intermediate plate between said second pressure member and saidlower plate.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein each of the resilient meanscomprise a vertical bolt passing through said plates, an opposedpressure member at the lower end of each of said bolts, and a springmember intermediate said last pressure member and the lower plate, eachof the two rst mentioned pressure members having a beadlike projection,said clamping members facing said rst pressure member as well as theintermediate plate facing said second pressure member each havingdepressions corresponding with said beadlike projection and interlockingtherewith.

9. A device according to claim 4, further comprising non-metallic meansintermediate the-clamping members and the lower plate for reducing thefriction between said members and said plate when sliding along eachother.

10. A device according to claim 4, further comprising non-metallic meansintermediate the clamping members and the lower plate as well as thecover plate for reducing the friction between said members and saidplates when sliding relative to each other.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,276,896 Walker Mar. 17, 1942 2,308,338 Mcllvaine Jan. 12, 19432,373,128 Mcllvaine Apr. 10, 1945 2,381,793 Wallace Aug. 7, 19452,383,064 Lanz Aug. 21, 1945 2,468,879 Hvam May 3, 1949 2,534,038 LanzDec. l2, 1950 2,686,039 Whitaker Aug. 10, 1954 2,698,757 Berlenbach Jan.4, 1955 2,745,672 Meier May l5, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 165,950 Austria May10, 1950 844,838 France May l, 1939 77,976 Sweden Aug. 1, 1933 222,570Switzerland Oct. 16, 1954

